Washingtonians waded through traffic snarls of the Nuclear Security Summit at the start of the week, but now Metrorail riders should prepare for delays this weekend.
The transit agency is planning to resume major track work on the Orange, Blue, Red and Green lines after taking a hiatus for the influx of visitors to the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Next weekend, expect more of the same.
Metro officials warn riders to build in 40 extra minutes for their trips. There will be plenty of riders, since the weekend is filled with sports events: Three Washington Nationals games, plus Washington Capitals and D.C. United matches.
The trains will share a single track on the Orange and Blue lines between Court House and Foggy Bottom stations from 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday’s closing. The closure of one track will allow the agency to install a new piece of equipment that allows trains to switch to the other tracks at the Rosslyn station.
Metro had planned to do the work in the three-day Presidents’ Day weekend, but the February snow storms got in the way. Now the agency is stretching the work out over two weekends but isn’t going to close the station station, as originally planned.
Metro had planned to do the work in the three-day Presidents’ Day weekend, but the February snow storms got in the way. Now the agency is stretching the work out over two weekends but isn’t going to close the station station, as originally planned.
Meanwhile, trains on the Red Line will share the same track between Medical Center and Friendship Heights so the agency can replace rail fasteners that stabilize the tracks. Metro plans to turn around every other Red Line train headed toward the Shady Grove station at Friendship Heights.
And Green Line trains will share a single track between the College Park/University of Maryland and Greenbelt stations from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, as crews replace a stretch of rail.
Next weekend, the work at Rosslyn and between the Medical Center and Friendship Heights stations will continue, with repeat single tracking. The Red Line also will face delays between the New York Avenue/Florida Avenue/Gallaudet University and Rhode Island Avenue/Brentwood stations, according to the agency.
